Can You Bring Vapes on a Plane?

These days, many people are inseparable from their vaporizers. If this sounds like you, you might fret over whether you’re able to fly with your vape, and which substances you can take with you. Below, we aim to provide a quick yet detailed explanation, so that you can fly in peace.

Keep reading to find out about taking vapes on planes, and how to keep yourself safe!

Can You Take Vapes on a Plane: The Short Answer

Maybe. That’s the really short answer.

The slightly longer answer is that you can take all vaporizers on planes so long as they don’t contain THC. However, there are different regulations regarding whether you can take them in carry-on luggage or checked luggage. If in doubt, take them in your carry-on luggage. And always give them a good clean!

Vapes on a Plane: What to Consider?

If you have a little more time to spare, below we’ll go into the considerations and regulations around flying with a vape. In essence, there are only a few factors to be aware of, but it is worth familiarising yourself with them so you don’t inadvertently run into trouble.

Cannabinoid Content

First and foremost, if you want to avoid getting arrested or charged with smuggling, be very mindful of which cannabinoids you attempt to board a flight with. Regulations vary in different countries, but it’s best to avoid taking THC, in any form, on a flight. Depending on where you’re going, you might be able to fly with CBD products containing trace levels of THC, but you should always research thoroughly before risking this. End up in the wrong place with even 0.2% THC, and you could be in big trouble.

CBD is, generally, legal in most places. But you should still be careful as many CBD products resemble cannabis products enough to raise eyebrows, and might result in you getting thoroughly searched and questioned.

For example, you should not fly with our CBD Vape Pen. Although the device can be legally taken in carry-on luggage, the e-juice it contains has 0.5% THC, which is illegal in most countries.

Batteries

You might have noticed that airlines have a thing about lithium batteries being stored in checked luggage. The reason for this is that they can, rarely, ignite. And in all cases where a lithium battery has come alight in the hold of an airborne plane, things went scary. So it’s best to avoid that!

Many vapes contain lithium batteries, and are therefore best taken in carry-on luggage. Technically, it is usually possible to put devices containing lithium batteries in the hold, so long as the batteries are in the device, but it can cause problems and delays, and may not always be allowed. So for devices with these types of batteries, it’s best to store them in your carry-on luggage.

An example of one such vape would be the PAX Mini. This is a small vape with a non-removable lithium battery. Alternatively, you could always use something like the DynaVap M Plus, which is a battery-free vaporizer. This could be stored in the hold or taken on the plane in your carry-on bag.

Cleanliness

Whichever vape you take and however you store it, you should make sure it is squeaky-clean. Resin, bits of flower, or even the general smell of weed are unlikely to endear you to the security in either your take-off or landing destination—so clean your vape and don’t give them a reason to notice you.

In some countries, even the merest trace of cannabis is technically enough to land you the death sentence. And you can be sure that you would seriously regret giving your vape a good clean if you ended up facing execution as a consequence!

How to Safely Pack Vapes for Flying

With all that in mind, you now know what to bear in mind if you decide to fly with your vape. To make sure you fly safely and within the bounds of the law, the following tips aim to assist you:

• Disassemble the device: First off, take the device apart as much as you can. This will help you to give it a proper clean, and will also mean that you can potentially carry the battery separately and double-check that there’s no weed lurking anywhere.
• Clean: Get to work cleaning each section. Pay special attention to the chamber, as this is where you’re likely to find incriminating residue. And really do clean the whole thing properly. Depending on where you go and who’s at security, you might find someone who really wants to give you a hard time, and so you should make this impossible for them. There is nothing illegal about a vape, but a vape with bits of weed inside could be against the law.
• Empty tank and store e-juice: If you’re flying with legal CBD juice, you might have to empty it from the tank and store it separately. Check airline regulations regarding this, but make sure you follow the instructions properly. It may be that you have to discard the e-juice at the airport, and if it’s stored separately you can save your vape if this is the case!

What to Do if You Can’t Fly With Your Vape?

If you can’t fly with your vape for some reason, you can always pick one up at your destination. Or, if you can fly with your vape but the contents need to be left behind, research if your destination carries that particular substance. Really, it depends on what you’re looking to vaporize.

In many locations you’ll be able to find replacement CBD products in the form of e-juices, flowers, and/or concentrates. And in some places, you might even be able to legally (or illegally) purchase THC-rich cannabis to vape. But remember, you’re not at home! Breaking the law in your home country, where you know how the system works and can speak the language, is one thing, but it’s quite another doing it somewhere foreign. Don’t take risks when abroad, and if in doubt, just abstain from consuming THC until you get back to your home.

Taking Vaporizers on Planes: Be Careful!

One way or another, you can almost definitely take your vape with you even if you’re flying. Just be sure to clean it very thoroughly and leave behind any product—flower, concentrate, or juice—that might be illegal in either the country you’re flying from or to. For that matter, it is usually illegal to fly with cannabis even if it’s legal in the countries at both ends of the flight, so it’s best to leave all THC behind.

Otherwise, follow the instructions above, check the rules of your particular airline, and you should be safe to take your vape on a plane!